JOSE GONZALEZ OPENS CONGRUITY NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES SEASON WITH WIN IN GAINESVILLE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 10, 2024) – In a matchup of two world champions, Jose Gonzalez knocked off Kris Thorne in the final round to win the season-opener in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ on Sunday as part of the 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
It was the first of 10 races during the 2024 season and this weekend’s event was powered by FuelTech.
Gonzalez powered to his ninth career NHRA Pro Mod victory on Sunday, going a weekend-best 5.685-seconds at 253.23 mph in his Q80 Camaro to open his season on a strong note. To reach the final round for the 14th time after knocking off Dwayne Wolfe, Justin Bond and Jason Scruggs. In the finals against Thorne, Gonzalez dipped into the 5.60s and cruised into the victory after Thorne smoked the tires early. Gonzalez also won in Gainesville in 2021.
“It’s just hard work from the crew,” Gonzalez said. “We hadn’t made one run before we got to Gainesville and we really started behind the eight-ball. We got a break on the first run and then the car started to come around. It’s a team effort. I’m just the one driving the car and they’re doing the hard work.”
Thorne, who won the Gatornationals in 2022, defeated reigning world champion Mike Castellana, Mason Wright and Mike Thielen to reach the finals for the ninth overall time.
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ returns to action April 5-7 as part of the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park. It marks the first time Pro Mod will race at the historic Phoenix track.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the first of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
PRO MODIFIED:
1. Jose Gonzalez; 2. Kris Thorne; 3. Mike Thielen; 4. Jason Scruggs; 5. Justin Bond; 6. Mason Wright; 7. Ken Quartuccio; 8. Tony Wilson; 9. Dwayne Wolfe; 10. Billy Banaka; 11. Lyle Barnett; 12. JR Gray Jr.; 13. Stan Shelton; 14. Kevin Rivenbark; 15. Mike Castellana; 16. Scott Wildgust.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Sunday’s final results from the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the first of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
Pro Modified — Jose Gonzalez, Chevy Camaro, 5.685, 253.23 def. Kris Thorne, Camaro, 10.333, 80.64.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Final round-by-round results from the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE — Tony Wilson, Chevy, 6.288, 218.19 def. Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 6.595, 212.46; Ken Quartuccio, Chevy Camaro, 5.703, 250.37 def. Billy Banaka, Camaro, 5.774, 249.30; Mike Thielen, Camaro, 5.713, 246.17 def. Scott Wildgust, Camaro, 9.821, 90.03; Jason Scruggs, Camaro, 5.833, 247.79 def. Kevin Rivenbark, Mustang, 7.368, 143.03; Mason Wright, Camaro, 5.719, 249.07 def. Lyle Barnett, Camaro, 5.787, 246.26; Jose Gonzalez, Camaro, 7.152, 152.83 def. Dwayne Wolfe, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.653, 251.67 def. JR Gray Jr., Camaro, 6.274, 243.77; Kris Thorne, Camaro, 5.768, 249.90 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 9.507, 93.70;
FINAL — Gonzalez, 5.685, 253.23 def. Thorne, 10.333, 80.64.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Point standings (top 10) following the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
Pro Modified
1. Jose Gonzalez, 112; 2. Kris Thorne, 94; 3. Mike Thielen, 80; 4. Jason Scruggs, 77; 5. Justin Bond, 59; 6. Mason Wright, 55; 7. Ken Quartuccio, 54; 8. Tony Wilson, 53; 9. Dwayne Wolfe, 34; 10. (tie) Billy Banaka, 32; Mike Castellana, 32; Stan Shelton, 32.
Bobby Lee Marriott from Grapevine, Texas USA (Comp Number: 446) 1987 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: TA/FC, Div: 4 "Shock Wave" Owned by Terry Darby & Bobby Lee Marriott from Grapevine, Texas USA '84 Pontiac Trans Am by Tony Casarez | Powered by a 525 cubic inch BAE Keith Black Hemi by Terry Darby […]
Larry Reep from Austin, Texas USA (Comp Number: 437) 1987 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: TA/FC, Div: 4 "Larry Reep" Owned by Fred Neely & Larry Reep from Austin, Texas USA '85 Ford Tempo by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch JP-1 Hemi by Larry Reep with 3 speed […]
Roger Gustin from Etna, Ohio USA 1987 - Category: JETFC, Type: KN, Class: Jet Funny Car, Div: 3 "Lava Machine" Owned by Roger Gustin from Etna, Ohio USA '87 Chevrolet Beretta by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a JT-1 Pratt & Whitney thrust engine 1/4 Mile ET: 5.970 at 1987 | 1/4 Mile […]
Sven Andersson from Sweden (Comp Number: 167) 1987 - Category: PS-500, Type: LE, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 9 "Mr. Skip" Owned by Sven Andersson from Sweden '86 Pontiac Trans Am by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Pontiac with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.870 at Unknown | […]
Norm Wizner from Port Charlotte, Florida USA (Comp Number: 3257) 1987 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: Quick 8, Div: 2 "Megaford" Owned by Norm Wizner from Port Charlotte, Florida USA '57 Ford Fairlane by Richard Earle | Powered by a 572 cubic inch Ford by Norm Wizner with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Gary Grahner from Orchard Park, New York USA (Comp Number: 3102) 1987 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Persico Bros." Owned by Persico Bros. from Orchard Park, New York USA '67 Chevrolet Camaro by Torrelli Pro Cars | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Pontiac with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]
Fred Sisk from West Virginia USA 1987 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 3 "The Dalton Gang" Owned by Fred Sisk from West Virginia USA '84 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 615 cubic inch Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.910 at Unknown […]
Mike Ashley from Melville, New York USA (Comp Number: 3225) 1987 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Brown & Winkler" Owned by Brown & Winkler from Melville, New York USA '86 Ford Thunderbird by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 600 cubic inch Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission […]
John Payne from Thornlands, Queensland Australia 1987 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HA, Class: Wild Bunch, Div: 8 "Superformance" Owned by John Payne from Thornlands, Queensland Australia '86 Chevrolet Corvette by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 540 cubic inch Rodeck Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.970 at Unknown | 1/4 Mile […]
Carroll Hine from Douglassville, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 1314) 1987 - Category: ALKYALT, Type: GN, Class: Wild Bunch, Div: 1 "Bucket of Thunder" Owned by Carroll Hine from Douglassville, Pennsylvania USA 23 Ford Model T Altered by Carroll Hine | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]